Metering device

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering device for a metered introduction of a pourable cleaning agent, in particular a cleaning agent in tablet form, into a treatment space (4) of a program-controlled cleaning device (1), with: a magazine housing (13) which provides a magazine chamber (14); a rotor (22) arranged in the magazine chamber (14) to turn about a rotor axis (16), said rotor having a plurality of supply compartments (23) for receiving, in each case, a portion of a pourable cleaning agent (24), wherein the supply compartments (23) are distributed about the rotor axis (16) in the peripheral direction of the rotor (22) and each have an outlet opening (28) radially opposite the rotor axis (16); a metering opening (21) formed in a limiting wall (20) of the magazine chamber (14), wherein the rotor (22) is configured, by means of a turning movement about the rotor axis (16), to bring the outlet opening (28) of each supply compartment (23) into a radially opposite position with the metering opening (21); a chute (19) which fluidically connects the metering opening (21) to the treatment space (4); and a blocking element (29) which can be moved from a blocking position to a release position, and vice versa, wherein the chute (19), when the blocking element (29) is in the blocking position, is blocked for a discharge of cleaning agent (24) out of a supply compartment (23) into the treatment chamber (4), characterised in that the blocking element (29) has a cover (30) which is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the rotor (22) and interacts with the metering opening (21) when the blocking element (29) is in the blocking position.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Dosing device

[0003] The invention relates to a dosing device for the dosed introduction of a pourable cleaning agent, in particular a tablet-shaped cleaning agent, into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning device, in particular a household dishwasher, with a magazine housing providing a magazine chamber, with a rotor arranged in the magazine chamber so as to be rotatable about a rotor axis, which rotor has a plurality of storage compartments for each receiving a portion of a pourable cleaning agent, wherein the storage compartments are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction of the rotor around the rotor axis and each have an outlet opening radially opposite the rotor axis, with a dosing opening formed in a boundary wall of the magazine chamber, wherein the rotor is designed toby means of a rotational movement about the rotor axis, to bring the outlet opening of each storage compartment into a radial position opposite the dosing opening, with a drop shaft which fluidically connects the dosing opening to the treatment chamber, and with a blocking element which can be transferred from a blocking position to a release position and vice versa, wherein the drop shaft is blocked in the blocking position of the blocking element for discharging cleaning agent from a storage compartment into the treatment chamber.

[0004] A dosing device of the generic type is known from DE 102021 110 759 A1.

[0005] The dosing device known from DE 10 2021 110 759 A1 serves to provide cleaning agent in tablet form, also called tabs, for a plurality of consecutive cleaning cycles. For this purpose, the dosing device has a rotor rotatably arranged in a magazine chamber, which provides a plurality of storage compartments. Each of the storage compartments is designed to hold a cleaning agent tab, thus a portion of cleaning agent. During proper use, one storage compartment is emptied per cleaning cycle, and the cleaning agent originating from this storage compartment is fed into the treatment chamber of the cleaning device.

[0006] To introduce cleaning agent into the cleaning device's treatment chamber, the dosing device is equipped with a chute that serves as an outlet channel. During dosing, cleaning agent from a storage compartment falls through this chute by gravity alone. The chute opens into the cleaning device's treatment chamber via an outlet on the outlet side.

[0007] To feed the chute with cleaning agent, the rotor providing the storage compartments is designed to be rotatable. Depending on the rotational position of the rotor, cleaning agent can be transferred from one of the storage compartments into the chute. The rotor is arranged within a magazine chamber defined by a chamber wall running circumferentially around the rotor. This boundary wall provides a dosing opening that opens into the chute on the inlet side. Each storage compartment provided by the rotor has an outlet opening radially opposite the rotor axis. With a correct rotational movement of the rotor, the outlet openings of the storage compartments can be moved to a position radially opposite the dosing opening, in which position the cleaning agent stored in the storage compartment can flow into the chute via the outlet opening of the storage compartment and the dosing opening and finally into the treatment chamber.

[0008] The dosing device previously known from DE 10 2021 110 759 A1 provides a rotor with a total of eight storage compartments. The dosing device thus enables the storage of eight portions of cleaning agent, so that a cleaning device equipped with the dosing device can perform eight consecutive cleaning cycles before the dosing device needs to be refilled with cleaning agent. The rotor, like a revolver magazine, is rotated one storage compartment further from cleaning cycle to cleaning cycle until all storage compartments are emptied and the rotor returns to its original position. The user then refills the rotor's storage compartments with cleaning agent, so that eight consecutive cleaning cycles can then be performed without the need for intermediate refilling with cleaning agent.

[0009] To prevent moisture from the treatment chamber of the cleaning device from penetrating through the chute into a storage compartment provided by the rotor, the chute is equipped with a blocking device. This blocking device is designed as a translatory movable slide and can be moved from a blocked position to an open position and vice versa by moving it into or out of the drop channel provided by the chute. In the blocked position, the slide closes the drop channel provided by the chute. Any moisture rising from the treatment chamber is thus prevented from passing through the chute and entering a storage compartment provided by the rotor. In the released position of the slide, however, the chute is open, meaning that cleaning agent can only be transferred from a storage compartment into the treatment chamber when the slide is in the released position.

[0010] An electric motor drive is provided to move the slide from the locked position to the released position or vice versa, and is activated by a control unit as needed. For this purpose, a sensor is located within the shaft, which communicates with the control unit. This makes it possible to move the slide into a released position before or after the rotor is rotated into a position in which cleaning agent is dispensed from the associated storage compartment toward the drop shaft. If the slide is previously moved to its released position, cleaning agent dispensed from a storage compartment falls directly through the drop shaft and is then channeled into the treatment room.However, if the rotor first rotates, the cleaning agent released from a storage compartment is first caught by the slide valve which is still in the locked position and remains in the chute until the slide valve is moved into its release position, so that the cleaning agent previously held back by the slide valve is then discharged into the treatment room.

[0011] Although the dosing device described above, previously known from DE 102021 110 759 A1, has proven itself in everyday practical use, there is still room for improvement. In particular, a simplified and thus more cost-effective design is sought. Against this background, the object of the invention is to further develop a generic dosing device in such a way that a simplified structure is achieved while simultaneously ensuring proper functionality.

[0012] To achieve this object, the invention proposes a dosing device of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that the blocking member has a cover arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor and cooperating with the dosing opening in the blocking position of the blocking member.

[0013] The blocking element of the dosing device according to the invention has a cover. In contrast to the slide valve of DE 10 2021 110 759 A1, this cover is not located inside the chute, but in front of it in the direction of cleaning agent discharge. When in the blocked position, it interacts with the dosing opening, thus covering it in the blocked position, preventing cleaning agent from entering the chute. Unlike the design according to DE 10 2021 110 759 A1, the introduction of cleaning agent into the chute is impossible when the blocking element is still in the blocked position. This has the advantage of further minimizing the risk of unwanted cleaning agent adhering to the inner wall of the chute. Proper functioning is thus ensured over the long term.

[0014] Unintentional ingress of moisture into the chute cannot be completely ruled out. Furthermore, even with cleaning agents in tablet form, the possibility of cleaning agent abrasion, which is usually in the form of dust, cannot be completely ruled out. This dusty cleaning agent abrasion can deposit on the inner wall of the chute, which can lead to the formation of a crust as a result of moisture ingress. The risk of such encrustation is significantly reduced with the inventive design, since intermediate storage of cleaning agent in the chute is structurally impossible.

[0015] According to the invention, the cover, which closes the metering opening when the blocking element is in the locked position, is arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor. The cover thus moves together with the rotor, whereby the rotor, which is already provided, serves as the drive for the cover. In contrast to DE 102021 110 759 A1, no separately designed electric motor drive is required. A control unit and interacting sensors are also not required. Rather, the cover is automatically moved when the rotor rotates during operation. The rotor is positioned in a basic position such that the cover carried by it closes the metering opening of the mixing chamber as intended.During dosing as intended, the rotor rotates, automatically moving the cover carried by the rotor into its release position, thereby opening the dosing opening for the introduction of cleaning agent. During dosing, the rotor rotates until the outlet opening of the associated storage compartment is radially aligned with the dosing opening. The cleaning agent stored in this storage compartment can thus flow through the outlet opening and the dosing opening into the chute and from there into the treatment chamber. The rotor then rotates back to its home position, where the cover is once again positioned opposite the dosing opening, meaning the cover is once again in the locked position, closing the dosing opening.

[0016] Due to the rotational movement of the rotor, which is not provided for in the intended use, the locking element is automatically transferred into the locked position or the released position, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotor. In contrast to DE 102021 110 759 A1, neither a separate electric motor drive for the locking element nor a corresponding control system for controlling such an electric motor drive is required. The design according to the invention thus proves to be much simpler in construction, which in particular helps to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs. Furthermore, the design according to the invention increases operational reliability because fewer moving components are used, thus resulting in an overall design with an improved service life, also from the point of view of reduced susceptibility to wear.

[0017] As a result, the design according to the invention synergistically provides, on the one hand, improved functional reliability, since the risk of unwanted cleaning agent adhesion to the inner wall of the drop shaft is minimized, and, on the other hand, a simplified structure, since separate drive and control devices for the blocking device can be completely dispensed with.

[0018] According to a further feature of the invention, the cover is designed to be movable relative to the rotor in the radial direction of the rotor. This relative movability of the cover makes it possible to press the cover against the metering opening when the rotor is in the basic position. This supports secure, in particular fluid-tight, closure of the metering opening by the cover. In order to achieve the most tight closure of the metering opening, a sealing contour is preferably provided either on the cover side or on the metering opening side, which sealing contour allows the cover to rest against the boundary wall of the mixing chamber surrounding the metering opening with as little gap as possible. For example, it can be provided that the metering opening is surrounded by a sealing means, for example a gasket that is inserted into a groove provided by the boundary wall of the mixing chamber.

[0019] According to a further feature of the invention, the locking member comprises force-applying means configured to apply force to the cover in the direction of the dosing opening when the locking member is in the locked position. Such means advantageously cause the cover to be automatically pressed against the dosing opening. This ensures, on the one hand, that the cover fits as tightly as possible against the dosing opening, and, on the other hand, tolerance compensation is created, since tolerances regarding the relative position of the dosing opening and the cover can occur due to manufacturing reasons.

[0020] According to a further feature of the invention, the means for applying force comprise a spring, preferably a compression spring. Such a spring can be, for example, a leaf spring or a coil spring arranged between a rotor-side abutment and the cover. The spring applies force to the cover, which is why it tends to move radially outward. This causes the cover to tightly fit the metering opening when the rotor is in its home position.

[0021] According to a further feature of the invention, the cover is arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotor between two storage compartments. The rotor can thus be in a position in which either the cover or an outlet opening of one of the storage compartments is radially opposite the metering opening. If the cover is parallel to the metering opening, the rotor has assumed its home position. In this home position of the rotor, the cover interacts with the metering opening, i.e., the cover is in its locked position and closes the metering opening.As soon as the rotor has been rotated out of this basic position and an outlet opening of one of the storage compartments is located radially opposite the dosing opening, the cleaning agent can be dosed into the treatment chamber as intended by the cleaning agent stored in the storage compartment being guided by gravity through the outlet opening, the dosing opening and the drop shaft into the treatment chamber.

[0022] According to a further feature of the invention, the storage compartments have a base that is inclined towards the axis of rotation. This has the advantage that the cleaning agent held by a storage compartment tends to migrate in the direction of the axis of rotation rather than towards the associated outlet opening when the rotor is in a generally horizontal orientation. Such a horizontal orientation of the rotor is particularly present when the storage compartments are filled with cleaning agent by the user outside the dosing device and the user then transports the storage compartments filled with cleaning agent to the dosing device for insertion into the mixing housing of the dosing device. Such filling of the rotor with cleaning agent outside the dosing device is particularly possible when the rotor is designed in two parts, as will be explained in more detail below.In any case, the inclined base design of the storage compartments ensures that when the rotor is aligned horizontally, the cleaning agent collected by the respective storage compartments slides in the direction of the axis of rotation, thus preventing unwanted discharge of cleaning agent via the outlet openings of the storage compartments.

[0023] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the storage compartments are each rectangular in shape in a plan view of the rotor.

[0024] According to this embodiment, the storage compartments have a rectangular base. The storage compartments are therefore designed to accommodate standardized, cuboid-shaped tablets.

[0025] Alternatively, according to a further feature of the invention, the storage compartments are each triangular in shape in a plan view of the rotor.

[0026] According to this embodiment, each storage compartment has a triangular base, meaning that such a storage compartment is not designed to hold a cleaning agent tablet with a rectangular cross-section, but rather a triangular one. This triangular design has the advantage that more storage compartments can be provided in the circumferential direction of the rotor, as the triangular design utilizes the dead spaces unavoidable with a rectangular design. The triangular design also allows for the provision of not just eight storage compartments, but more, for example, twelve storage compartments. The triangular design of the storage compartments results in a 50% increase in storage capacity, which means that refills are required correspondingly less frequently.

[0027] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the rotor axis is defined by a shaft stub arranged in the magazine chamber, wherein the shaft stub has an illumination device at its end.

[0028] The lighting device on the shaft end advantageously enables the illumination of the rotor's storage compartments. This advantageously allows the user to easily see at a glance how many of the rotor's storage compartments are still properly filled with detergent. This facilitates the user's control of when the rotor needs to be refilled with detergent. In particular, the user can check the rotor at the beginning of a wash program, and this in a simple visual manner, so that in the event that the rotor is improperly filled with detergent, the user can intervene and refill it before the wash program begins. Incorrectly executed cleaning programs can thus be effectively avoided.

[0029] According to a particularly preferred proposal of the invention, it is provided that the rotor is designed in several parts and has a storage unit providing the storage compartments and a support unit, wherein the support unit is arranged so as to be rotatable about the rotor axis provided by the magazine chamber and accommodates the storage unit in an exchangeable manner.

[0030] The two-part design of the rotor has several advantages.

[0031] This makes it possible to remove the storage unit from the dosing device, for example, to clean it or refill it with cleaning agent. The carrying unit, however, remains within the magazine chamber, where it is arranged so it can rotate around the rotor axis.

[0032] Cleaning the storage unit outside the dosing device has the advantage of reliably preventing unwanted moisture from entering the dosing device. This allows the user to clean the storage compartments from time to time, removing any cleaning agent residue, while simultaneously ensuring that such cleaning does not introduce unwanted moisture into the dosing device.

[0033] Loading the storage unit with cleaning agent outside the dosing device has the advantage that the user does not have to kneel in front of the cleaning device. Instead, the storage unit can be removed from the dosing device by the user and then refilled with cleaning agent at a comfortable working height, for example, using the countertop of a kitchen unit. Once the storage unit has been refilled, the user can return it to the dosing device. As already described, it is advantageous that the bottoms of the storage compartments are inclined toward the rotation axis, thus preventing accidental spillage of cleaning agent from the outlet openings of the storage containers.

[0034] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided in this context that the carrying unit has a driver which is designed to correspond to a receptacle provided by the storage unit, wherein the driver carries the locking member.

[0035] The support unit has a driver. When used as intended, this interacts with a correspondingly designed holder for the storage unit. This ensures a positive and frictional connection between the support unit and the storage unit, so that if the support unit rotates, the storage unit it holds is also rotated in a synchronized manner. A rotational movement of the support unit therefore also leads to a rotational movement of the storage unit. The driver of the support unit also serves to position the locking element. The driver provides the abutment against which the cover of the locking element is supported with the interposition of a force medium. Since the locking element is located on the support unit and not on the storage unit, the storage unit can be removed from the dosing device without this releasing the dosing opening.This means that even if the storage unit is removed to fill it with cleaning agent, the dosing opening remains closed by the locking device.

[0036] As a result, the dosing device according to the invention is characterized by a blocking element integrated into the rotor. In the blocked position, this closes the dosing opening, thus preventing unwanted moisture from entering the storage compartments of the rotor. According to a preferred embodiment, the rotor is designed in two parts and has a support unit on the one hand and a storage unit on the other, which is interchangeably received by the support unit. This allows the optional use of storage units with different geometric designs. For example, a storage unit can be used that has storage compartments with rectangular bases. Such a storage unit is used to hold conventional cleaning agent tablets. Alternatively, the use of a storage unit that has storage compartments with triangular bases is possible.Such a storage unit is designed to accommodate special cleaning tabs, namely those with a triangular cross-section. The advantage of this design is that the storage unit can accommodate more than just eight cleaning tabs.

[0037] Furthermore, the inventive design enables a simplified structure, with the barrier element sealing off the dry storage compartment from the wet treatment compartment in a cost-optimized manner. No additional drive unit is required for the barrier element. The opening and closing of the chute occurs automatically as a result of a rotating movement of the rotor, and the individual cleaning agent tablets stored in the storage compartments can then be dosed by gravity.

[0038] Furthermore, the invention proposes a program-controlled cleaning appliance, in particular a household dishwasher, which is equipped with a dosing device of the type described above, ie of the type according to the invention.

[0039] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the figures.

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a program-controlled cleaning device using the example of a household dishwasher;

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a schematic interior view of the appliance door of the cleaning appliance according to Fig. 1;

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the magazine housing of a dosing device according to the invention;

[0043] Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a rotor of the dosing device according to the invention;

[0044] Fig. 5 shows a sectional side view of the rotor according to Fig. 4;

[0045] Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the magazine housing according to Fig. 3 with the rotor inserted;

[0046] Fig. 7 shows a storage unit according to a first embodiment;

[0047] Fig. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a support unit;

[0048] Fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of a storage unit according to a first embodiment;

[0049] Fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of a storage unit according to a second embodiment;

[0050] Fig. 11 shows a schematic perspective view of a dosing device according to the invention in an exploded view; Fig. 12 shows a schematic perspective view of a support unit inserted into a mixing housing according to Fig. 3;

[0051] Fig. 13 shows a schematic detail view of a locking member in the locking position;

[0052] Fig. 14 shows a schematic perspective view of a support unit in exploded view;

[0053] Fig. 15 shows a schematic sectional view of a dosing device according to the invention in

[0054] Exploded view and

[0055] Fig. 16 shows a schematic sectional view of a dosing device according to the invention.

[0056] Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a program-controlled cleaning device 1 in the form of a household dishwasher.

[0057] The cleaning appliance 1 comprises, in a conventional manner, a housing 2 that accommodates a cleaning container 3. The cleaning container 3, in turn, provides a treatment chamber 4 for receiving the items to be cleaned. To feed the treatment chamber 4 with items to be cleaned, the cleaning container 3 has a loading opening 5. This loading opening 5 can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of an appliance door 6, which is pivotally mounted about a horizontally extending pivot axis.

[0058] The appliance door 6 is shown in an interior view in Fig. 2. As can be seen from this illustration, the appliance door 6 is equipped with a known combination device 8 and a dosing device 9 according to the invention. The dosing device 9 serves to store cleaning agent for several consecutive cleaning cycles.

[0059] To allow user access to the dosing device 9, the inside 7 of the device door 6 is equipped with a corresponding opening. This opening can be closed during intended use by means of a pivotable cover 10 mounted on the device door 6. As can also be seen from the illustration in Fig. 2, an outlet 11, at least partially covered by a hood 12, is formed on the inside 7 of the device door 6. This outlet 11 serves to discharge the cleaning agent discharged by the dosing device 9 during dosing into the treatment chamber 4 provided by the cleaning container 3.

[0060] The exact structure and functioning of the dosing device 9 according to the invention can be seen from a summary of Figures 3 to 16.

[0061] As can be seen in Fig. 3, the dosing device 9 has a magazine housing 13. In the final assembled state, this is installed inside the device door 6.

[0062] The magazine housing 13 provides a magazine chamber 14. This is accessible to a user when the cover 10 is open.

[0063] For storing cleaning agent, the dosing device 9 further comprises a rotor 22, as shown in a schematic perspective view in Fig. 4 according to a first embodiment. In its intended use, the rotor 22 is arranged within the magazine chamber 14, specifically around a rotor axis 16 defined by a shaft stub 15 of the magazine chamber 14. A rotor 22 inserted into the mixing chamber 14 as intended can be seen, for example, in Fig. 6.

[0064] During the intended dosing process, a rotational movement of the rotor 22 occurs around the shaft stub 15. To initiate such a rotational movement, the dosing device 9 has an electric drive device 17. This has a gear 18, which, during the intended use, meshes with a gear ring 27 provided by the rotor 2.

[0065] As further apparent from the illustration, particularly in Fig. 3, the magazine chamber 14 is delimited by a circumferential boundary wall 20. This boundary wall 20 is equipped with a metering opening 21. This metering opening 21 opens into a chute 19, which in turn opens into the treatment chamber 4 via the outlet 11.

[0066] As can be seen, particularly from a combined view of Figures 4 and 5, the rotor 22 provides a plurality of storage compartments 23, each of which serves to hold a portion of a pourable cleaning agent. In the illustrated embodiment, tablet-shaped cleaning agents, i.e., cleaning agent tablets 24, also called tabs, are used. When the rotor 22 is fully loaded, one cleaning agent tablet 24 is provided for each storage compartment 23.

[0067] As can also be seen from the illustration in Fig. 4, the storage compartments 23 are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction of the rotor 22 around the rotor axis 16 and each storage compartment 23 has an outlet opening 28 radially opposite the rotor axis 16.

[0068] As can be seen from a combined view of Figures 3 and 6, the rotor 22 is configured to bring the outlet opening 28 of each storage compartment 23 into a radial position opposite the dosing opening 21 by means of a rotational movement about the rotor axis 16. With the device door 6 closed, a cleaning tablet 24 can thus fall out of a storage compartment 23 following gravity alone and pass through the outlet opening 28 of the storage compartment 23 and the dosing opening 21 into the chute 19. From there, the cleaning tablet 24 passes through the outlet 11 and into the treatment chamber 4.

[0069] In this context, Figures 4 and 6 show storage compartments 23 with different geometric configurations. For example, Figure 6 shows a configuration in which the base 32 of a storage compartment 23 is rectangular, making the storage compartments 23 suitable for accommodating standard tabs, i.e., cuboid-shaped tabs. With such a configuration of the storage compartments 23, a total of eight storage compartments 23 can be provided by the rotor 22.

[0070] The embodiment according to Fig. 4 shows storage compartments 23 whose bases are triangular. These storage compartments 23 are therefore not suitable for accommodating cuboid-shaped cleaning agent tablets 24. Instead, special tabs are required, namely those with a triangular cross-section. The advantage of the embodiment according to Fig. 4, however, is that the rotor 22 has four more storage compartments 23 for the same circumferential length, since, in contrast to the embodiment according to Fig. 6, unnecessary dead space is avoided. As can be seen from a further combination of Figures 3, 4 and 6, the dosing device 9 has a blocking element 29 that can be moved from a blocked position to a released position and vice versa, wherein the chute 19 is blocked in the blocked position of the blocking element 29 for discharging cleaning agent from a storage compartment 23 into the treatment chamber 4, as is particularly evident in the illustration according to Fig.6 can be seen.

[0071] According to the invention, the blocking member 29 has a cover 30 arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor 22 and cooperating with the metering opening 21 in the blocking position of the blocking member 29. This blocking position of the blocking member 29 is illustrated, for example, in Fig. 6.

[0072] As can be seen from the illustration in Fig. 6, the blocking member 29, in the blocking position, closes the dosing opening 21 with the cover 30. In this position, the rotor 33 is in its so-called home position, in which the blocking member 29, carried by the rotor 22, is radially opposite the dosing opening 21. In this blocking position, unhindered moisture entry from the treatment chamber 4 through the chute 19 is prevented.

[0073] From this basic position, the rotor 22 can be rotated so that the locking member 29 disengages from the dosing opening 21. As a result, the dosing opening 21 is released. The rotor 22 rotates so far that the outlet opening 28 of a storage compartment 23 still filled with cleaning agent is radially opposite the dosing opening 21. As a result, the cleaning agent in the storage compartment 23 can be discharged and transferred to the treatment chamber 4 in the manner already described.

[0074] A special feature of the inventive design is that the locking member 29 rotates together with the rotor 22, i.e., it automatically moves along with the rotor during movement. The rotor 22, which is already provided, thus serves to transfer the locking member 29 into the locked position or into the released position. A separate electric motor drive is therefore not required for the locking member 29. A separate control system or sensors can also be completely omitted.

[0075] A particularly preferred embodiment emerges in detail from a summary of Figures 7 to 12.

[0076] According to this embodiment, the rotor 22 is constructed in several parts and has a storage unit 34 and a support unit 35. In the final assembled state, the support unit 35 is arranged so as to be rotatable about the rotor axis 16 provided by the magazine chamber 14, as can be seen, for example, in Fig. 12. The storage unit 34 provides the storage compartments 23 and is interchangeably received by the support unit 35.

[0077] The interchangeable arrangement of the storage unit 34 on the support unit 35 allows different storage units to be used in the geometric design

[0078] 34 can be used selectively. Two different embodiments of a storage unit 34 are shown in Figures 9 and 10. These two storage units 34 differ in the geometric design of the storage compartments 23, as already explained above.

[0079] For driving in the event of rotation, the support unit 35 has a driver 36, as is particularly evident from the illustration in Fig. 8. This driver 36 interacts with a receptacle 38 of the storage unit 34, which is designed correspondingly to the driver 36. In the final assembled state, the receptacle 38 engages around the driver 36, so that a proper rotational movement of the support unit

[0080] 35 is transferred to the storage unit 34.

[0081] As can also be seen from Fig. 8, the driver 36 of the support unit 35 carries the locking member 29. This factual connection is also evident from the illustration in Fig. 14.

[0082] As can be seen in Fig. 14, the front side 40 of the driver 36 represents a support for the cover 30, which is arranged on the driver 36 with the interposition of a spring 39. As a result of this configuration, spring force is induced, the cover 30 is preloaded in the radial direction, and therefore tends to move radially outward. Consequently, in the locked position, the cover 30 rests as tightly as possible against the boundary wall 20 of the magazine chamber 14 surrounding the dosing opening 21.

[0083] To ensure that the cover 30 is securely arranged on the driver 36, hooks 41 are provided on the front side 40 of the driver 36, which hooks interact with the cover 30 and prevent the cover 30 from moving too far radially outwards.

[0084] Fig. 13 shows a detailed view of the locking position of the locking member 29. As can be seen from this illustration, the cover 30 of the locking member 29, in the locked position, rests against the boundary wall 20 of the magazine chamber 14 surrounding the dosing opening 21. As a result, the dosing opening 21 is closed by the locking member 29, so that any moisture rising from the treatment chamber 4 is prevented from entering the storage unit 34 or the rotor 22.

[0085] For the rotatable arrangement of the rotor 22 in the magazine chamber 14, the previously described shaft stub 15 is provided on the magazine chamber side. In the final assembled state, this shaft stub 15 engages in a recess 31 provided by a bearing dome 33 of the rotor 2, as can be seen, for example, from a comparison of Figures 5 and 15. The shaft stub 15 defines the rotor axis 16, around which the rotor 22 can be rotated. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, the shaft stub 15 carries an illumination device 43 at its end. When energized, this emits light beams 44, as shown in Figure 15.

[0086] In this case, the support unit 35 provides a bearing dome 33 which is equipped with windows 42 which serve as light exit openings.

[0087] The storage unit 34, which cooperates with the support unit 35, provides a hood element 45 that surrounds the upper part of the storage dome 33 in the fully assembled state and which, in turn, has light exit openings in the form of windows 46. In the fully assembled state, light 44 emitted by the lighting device 43 can illuminate the individual storage compartments 23, as shown in Fig. 16. This allows the user to easily visually check that the storage compartments 23 are filled with cleaning agent.

[0088] A further advantage of the two-part design of the rotor 22 is that the storage unit 34 can be removed from the magazine chamber 14 for loading with cleaning agent by the user, which simplifies loading with cleaning agent by the user. In order to ensure that any cleaning agent does not inadvertently escape from the outlet openings 28 of the storage compartments 23 when the storage unit 34 filled with cleaning agent is reinserted into the magazine chamber 14, the base 32 of each storage compartment 23 is inclined to the axis of rotation 16, as shown in Fig. 5. As can be seen from this illustration, due to the inclined design of the bases 32 of the storage compartments 23, the cleaning agent tablets 24 held by the storage compartments 23 tend to slide in the direction of the axis of rotation 16, thus away from the respective outlet opening 28.

[0089] Reference symbol

[0090] 28 Outlet opening

[0091] 1 cleaning device

[0092] 29 Locking device

[0093] 2 housings

[0094] 30 30 Cover

[0095] 3 treatment tanks

[0096] 31 recess

[0097] 4 Treatment room

[0098] 32 floor

[0099] 5 Loading opening

[0100] 33 Camp Dome

[0101] 6 Appliance door

[0102] 34 storage unit

[0103] 7 Inside

[0104] 35 35 Carrying unit

[0105] 8 combination device

[0106] 36 drivers

[0107] 9 Dosing device

[0108] 38 recording

[0109] 10 lids

[0110] 39 spring

[0111] 11 Outlet

[0112] 40 Front

[0113] 12 hood

[0114] 40 41 hooks

[0115] 13 magazine housings

[0116] 42 windows (light exit opening)

[0117] 14 magazine chamber

[0118] 43 Lighting equipment

[0119] 15 Shaft stub

[0120] 44 Light (ray of light)

[0121] 16 Rotor axis

[0122] 45 hood element

[0123] 17 Drive device

[0124] 45 46 Window (light exit opening)

[0125] 18 gear

[0126] 19 Drop shaft

[0127] 20 boundary wall

[0128] 21 Dosing opening

[0129] 22 Rotor

[0130] 23 Storage compartment

[0131] 24 cleaning tablets

[0132] 27 sprocket

Claims

Patent claims 1. Dosing device for the metered introduction of a pourable cleaning agent, in particular a tablet-shaped cleaning agent, into a treatment chamber (4) of a program-controlled cleaning device (1), with a magazine housing (13) providing a magazine chamber (14), with a rotor (22) arranged in the magazine chamber (14) so ​​as to be rotatable about a rotor axis (16), which rotor has a plurality of storage compartments (23) for each receiving a portion of a pourable cleaning agent (24), wherein the storage compartments (23) are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction of the rotor (22) around the rotor axis (16) and each have an outlet opening (28) radially opposite the rotor axis (16), with a dosing opening (21) formed in a boundary wall (20) of the magazine chamber (14), wherein the rotor (22) is designed toby means of a rotational movement about the rotor axis (16), to bring the outlet opening (28) of each storage compartment (23) into a radial position opposite the dosing opening (21), with a chute (19) which fluidically connects the dosing opening (21) to the treatment chamber (4), and with a blocking member (29) which can be transferred from a blocking position to a release position and vice versa, wherein the chute (19) is blocked in the blocking position of the blocking member (29) for discharging cleaning agent (24) from a storage compartment (23) into the treatment chamber (4), characterized in that the blocking member (29) has a cover (30) arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor (22) and cooperating with the dosing opening (21) in the blocking position of the blocking member (29).

2. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (30) is designed to be movable in the radial direction of the rotor (22) relative to the rotor (22).

3. Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blocking member (29) has means for applying force which are designed to apply force to the cover (30) in the direction of the dosing opening (21) when the blocking member (29) is in the blocking position.

4. Dosing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for force application have a spring (39).

5. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (30) is arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotor (22) between two storage compartments (23).

6. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing opening (21) is surrounded by a sealing means.

7. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage compartments (23) have a bottom (32) inclined in the direction of the axis of rotation (16).

8. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage compartments (23) are each rectangular in shape in a plan view of the rotor (22).

9. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the storage compartments (23) are each triangular in shape in a plan view of the rotor (22).

10. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (22) provides eight storage compartments (23).

11. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rotor (22) provides more than eight storage compartments (23), preferably twelve storage compartments (23).

12. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor axis (16) is defined by a shaft stub (15) arranged in the magazine chamber (14), wherein the shaft stub (15) has an illumination device (43) at its end.

13. Dosing device according to claim 12, characterized in that the rotor (22) has a bearing dome (33) cooperating with the shaft stub (15), which provides light passage openings (42, 46).

14. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (22) is designed in several parts and has a storage unit (34) providing the storage compartments (23) and a carrying unit (35), wherein the carrying unit (35) is arranged around the storage compartments (23) provided by the magazine chamber (14). Rotor axis (16) is arranged rotatably and accommodates the storage unit (34) in an exchangeable manner.

15. Dosing device according to claim 14, characterized in that the carrying unit (35) has a driver (36) which is designed to correspond to a receptacle (38) provided by the storage unit (34), wherein the Driver (36) carries the locking member (29).

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